Laminar fluid nor element



8 6 R. P. TRASK n, ETAL 3,

LAMINAR FLUID NOR ELEMENT Filed March 20, 1967 lNVENTO/ZS R. PIERCE TRASKJI SILAS KATZ Y M. LUCIUS WALKER, JR.

United States Patent Oflice 3,478,764 Patented Nov. 18, 1969 3,478,764 LAMINAR FLUID NOR ELEMENT Roland Pierce Trask II, Mount Rainier, and Silas Katz,

Silver Spring, Md., and M. Lucius Walker, Jr., Washington, D.C., assignors t the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Mar. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 625,563

Int. Cl. FlSc 1/14 U.S. Cl. 13781.5 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to fluid amplifiers and in particular to a fluid NOR element capable of operating entirely within a laminar flow regime.

Fluid amplifiers are currently finding application as analog and digital computer elements, as well as other uses in the field of fluid power and control. Fluid amplifiers feature inherent reliability and essentially unlimited life span since generally they employ no moving mechanical parts thereby avoiding wear, deterioration, or dissipation in operation. Further, they can be produced at low cost due to their ease of fabrication from virtually any material that is non-porous and has structural rigidity. As a result they are ideal for application where nuclear radiation high temperature, vibration, and shock may be present. The devices will operate on both compressible fluids such as gases including air and relatively incompressible fluids, such as water or oil.

In performing the analog and digital arithmetic functions using pure fluid devices one of the most important elements is a NOR element. A NOR element can be characterized by the fact that if either or both of two signals are received it will disrupt the signal being sent from a power nozzle to a power collector. Prior art NOR elements were successful in performing the basic logic function of diverting a main signal from a power nozzle to a collector upon receipt of either or both of two signals. 0

However, prior art NOR elements required a large amount of power to the input nozzle since they were turbulent devices. Because of the turbulence in the prior art NOR elements a high amount of pressure was needed thus making diflicult the stacking of pure fluid elements to perform logic functions. A similar problem connected to the turbulence of prior art fluid NOR elements is that because of the turbulence in the prior art NOR elements compactness had to be sacrificed.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a NOR element capable of operating in the laminar flow regime.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a NOR element that can be compactly built.

Other objects and aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing specification and drawing, in which:

The figure is a schematic representation of an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the figure, a power port 11, by a constant area nozzle 25, directs power fluid to an interaction area 40. Adjacent power nozzle 25 is a first signal nozzle 16 which is in communication with a signal receiving port 12. Adjacent first signal nozzle 16 is a second signalnozzle 17 which is in communication with a second signal port 13. As can be seen from the figure the discharge regions 50 and 24 of nozzles 16 and 17 are immediately adjacent the path the fluid from power nozzle 25 .takes when leaving power port 11. A side wall 23 is in alignment with a bottom portion 51 of power nozzle 25. Adjacent side wall 23 is an atmospheric vent region 22 which communicates with a port 14 which in turn is vented to the atmosphere. Adjacent atmospheric vent region 22 is a receiving nozzle 26 which leads to a power fluid collector port 15. The bottom portion 61 of nozzle 26 is in alignment with side wall 23 and also with nozzle portion 51 of power nozzle 25. As can be seen from the drawing, nozzle 26 is of constant crosssectional area and slightly larger than the cross-section of nozzle 25. Perpendicular to wall portion 17 of power nozzle 25 is a side wall portion which is integral with a side wall portion 28 at an angle 0 of 30. Cusp 92 is integral with the end of collector 26 and is joined to a curved side wall portion 27 which is integral with a side wall portion 93. Side wall 93 and side wall 28 serve to define an atmospheric vent port 21.

In normal operation fluid having a pressure in the order of magnitude of a few inches of water will be communicated to power port 11 and by nozzle 25 directed to collector 26 and power fluid collector port 15. If a fluid signal is received by either signal port 12 or signal port 13, or both signal ports 12 and 13, the power fluid from nozzle 25 will be deflected toward side wall 28 and ultimately to atmosphere via port 21, performing a NOR function.

The specific features of this invention which allow only a few inches of water to serve as the pressure for the power fluid communicated to power port 11 deserves special attention. One of the features which allows a laminar flow regime for our NOR element is that the power nozzle 25 and the power collector 26 are in alignment with each other. Because of this alignment it is not necessary for the power fluid to change direction on its path to the power collector and a low amount of power can be utilized. A second feature that allows a low power source to be used to supply the NOR element of our invention is that region 22 communicates with atmospheric pressure. By having region 22 communicate with atmosphere the power fluid from nozzle 25, which follows the path of least resistance, will be drawn towards wall 23 and ultimately to power collector 26 and power fluid collector port 15. If region 22 were not communicated to atmosphere, a high pressure region might build up there causing the power fluid nozzle 25 to curve away from the region into collector port 21. Similarly if region 22 were not at atmospheric pressure in order to allow power fluid from nozzle 25 to be communicated to collector 26 a large pressure would have to be communicated to power port 11 and nozzle 25 to allow the fluid to be directed to collector 26 and overcome the high pressure region in area 22. Similarly wall 23 helps to guide, or focus, fiow from nozzle 25 to collector 26 and eliminates the need for a high pressure jet to supply its own momentum. A further feature of the present invention which allows a low pressure signal to be utilized is the location of discharge regions 50 and 24 immediately adjacent the path which the power fluid takes from nozzle 25 to collector 26. By having the discharge regions adjacent the power jet and not set back a low pressure signal can control the power jet.

It is thus apparent that we have provided a novel fluid NOR element which can utilize a power supply of only a few inches of water and perform the logic function for which it is intended. A further feature which should be apparent from the foregoing disclosure is that because of the low pressure needed to power the system a very compact NOR element can be built which can be utilized in fluid logic circuits wthout demanding a large area to be used. Aspect ratios of less than one can be utilized in accordance with the present invention adding to the compactness of the device.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

We claim as our invention:

1. A fluid NOR element comprising:

(a) a first means to receive a power fluid source;

(b) second means to utilize said power source to issue a power jet;

(0) third means in alignment with said second means to collect said power jet;

(d) a first atmospheric bleed region communicating with a first atmospheric bleed port immediately adjacent said third means;

(e) plural signal means to deflect said power jet from said third means, each of said signal means having a discharge region immediately adjacent the path the power jet takes from said second means to said third means, said plural signal means comprising a first fluid nozzle immediately adjacent said second means and a second fluid nozzle immediately adjacent said first fluid nozzle;

(f) a side wall joining said second fluid nozzle and said first atmospheric bleed region, and

(g) a second atmospheric bleed region opposite from said first atmospheric bleed region and communicating with a second atmospheric bleed port, said second atmospheric bleed region including an offset wall portion adjacent said second means and perpendicular to said path said fluid takes from said second means to said third means, and a slanted wall portion integral with said oflset wall portion and extending to said second atmospheric bleed port.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein a curved wall portion is immediately adjacent said third means and integral with a straight wall portion, said straight wall portion being integral with said second atmospheric bleed port.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,107,850 10/1963 Warren et al. 137-815 XR 3,174,497 3/1965 Sowers 13781.5 3,240,219 3/1966 [Dexter et a1 137-81.5 3,240,220 3/1966 Jones 137-815 3,246,661 4/1966 'Bauer 13781.5 3,285,265 11/1966 Boothe et al 137-81.5

SAMUEL SCOTT, Primary Examiner 

